PAUSE is a profoundly formalist, wordless piece of cinema that operates with breathtaking efficacy within the realm of dance-film, offering images that can truly be described as unique. Filmmaker Keisha Tonte Dokubo—who also commands the screen as an actor and dancer—masterfully employs body language, parallel editing, and mesmerizing choreography to interrogate concepts of anxiety, entrapment, and the relentless grind of daily life. Notably, the film elevates every setting i

Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get interested in cinema, and did you study it academically? I grew up in a family where cinema and the arts were always part of everyday life. My father had a deep passion for Italian neorealist cinema, so from an early age I was introduced to directors like Rossellini, Fellini and Antonioni. Later, growing up in Paris, I immersed myself in the independent cinema scene and discovered the French New Wave—Godard, Truffaut—and, throu

The period from the 2010s to the present day can comfortably be called the golden age of documentary filmmaking. The primary reason is that today, compared to the final years of the previous century, there are far more avenues to discover and watch documentaries. Access to a wider array of titles from various corners of the globe has effectively introduced us to the unique creative worlds of independent filmmakers. This shift—which mostly benefits the audience—has provided an

Self portrait - Keisha Tonte Dokubo Please tell us about your background in filmmaking and choreography. How did you learn to make films? My love for screendance was ignited during my time studying Bachelor of Arts Degree in diverse dance styles at IRIE! dance theatre, London (2020-2023). My course was interrupted by Covid, but not for too long. It was in this space that I started to create productions based around healing through Christian urban dance and the Covid interrupt